Multiplicity distributions and rescattering effects in pd interactions at 200 GeV/c

This study determines topological cross sections and rescattering effects for 200-GeV/c pd interactions observed in a 60 000-picture exposure of the Fermilab 30-inch deuterium bubble chamber. We measure the pd inelastic cross section for n/sub ch/ > or = 3 to be 55.0 +- 0.8 mb and find that (17.4 +- 1.8) % of the pn events have a secondary interaction with the spectator proton. The rescattering is adequately described by a model which assumes the rescattering probability to be independent of the primary collision multiplicity. The multiplicity distribution for nonrescattered pn interactions has = 7.3 +- 0.1 and f/sup c/c2 =8.4 +- 0.5